Legislature schedules public hearing on economic development application

The Herkimer County Legislature voted Wednesday afternoon to set a public hearing on the proposed submission of an application for economic development assistance to the state Office of Homes and Community Renewal. The hearing, to be led by the legislature’s Committee on County Planning and Development, wil...

By Rob Juteau

The Telegram

By Rob Juteau

Posted Apr. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 6, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Rob Juteau

Posted Apr. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 6, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Herkimer, N.Y.

The Herkimer County Legislature voted Wednesday afternoon to set a public hearing on the proposed submission of an application for economic development assistance to the state Office of Homes and Community Renewal.

The hearing, to be led by the legislature’s Committee on County Planning and Development, will take place on Wednesday, April 24, at 7 p.m. in the legislative chambers of the Herkimer County Office Building at 109 Mary St., Herkimer.

Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director Mark Feane said Wednesday the five projects include a $600,000 rehabilitation or replacement of manufactured housing units for 20 low- and middle-income households, to be completed in conjunction with the UNHS Neighborhood Works Homeownership Center; a $90,000 equipment upgrade for Burrows Paper Corporation as part of a $27 million project; $265,000 toward Northern Safety’s planned $1.78 million expansion project; $86,000 toward Ruby Lake Glass’ planned $250,000 economic development project; and $45,000 toward a $625,000 project being undertaken by Hummel’s Office Equipment.

“The money for these projects will come from the 2012 consolidated funding application process and funds that were awarded to the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council,” he said. “These are moneys that were not awarded.”

Feane added the hearing would move the application process to the next step.

“The application process will create additional work for the businesses applying for the funding and for the IDA, but when you look at a total investment of $29 million and the possible creation of 90 new jobs you can see these are worthwhile projects,” he said.

Feane said the IDA would have a hand in the four economic development projects, but not the housing project. “The housing project is outside of what the IDA does,” he said.

The resolution unanimously passed by the legislature Wednesday afternoon also stated the county’s support for the application and authorized legislature Chairman Vincent Bono to sign and certify any necessary documents.